I Will Find You, the latest thriller from bestselling author Harlan Coben, arrived on Netflix on June 18, 2026. The eight-episode series, based on Coben’s 2023 novel, is the author’s first Netflix adaptation set in the United States. Episode 1, simply titled “Episode 1,” wastes no time plunging viewers into the story of David Burroughs, an innocent man serving a life sentence for a crime he did not commit.
The show marks Coben’s latest collaboration with Netflix, following hits like Fool Me Once and Run Away. This time, the story is anchored by a central performance from Sam Worthington, who brings a raw desperation to the role of a father who has lost everything.
The Heartbreaking Setup: A Father’s Nightmare
Episode 1 opens with a deceptive warmth. We see David Burroughs (Sam Worthington) spending time with his young family in a series of idyllic flashbacks. The peace is shattered when he wakes up in his prison cell. David is in the fifth year of a life sentence for the murder of his three-year-old son, Matthew.
David insists he is innocent. He tells the audience that he was just down the hall, asleep, when Matthew was killed in his bedroom. Despite his claims, the evidence against him was overwhelming. DNA evidence and an eyewitness testimony from a neighbor, Hilde Winslow, sealed his fate. He has refused to see any visitors, including his family, consumed by the tragedy and the wreckage of his life.
A Shocking Revelation: Hope from a Photograph
David’s isolated existence is upended when his sister-in-law, Rachel Mills (Britt Lower), comes to visit him. Their conversation is awkward at first, but Rachel soon reveals the shocking reason for her visit. An old friend of hers shared photos of a family trip, and in the background of one image, Rachel spotted a little boy.
David is initially skeptical, but Rachel insists the boy looks just like Matthew, and more importantly, he has the same distinct birthmark on his cheek. This small piece of evidence sends a jolt of hope through David. For the first time in five years, he has a reason to believe his son may still be alive.
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Prison Danger and a Daring Plan
The discovery sets off a chain reaction of dangerous events. When David begins to ask questions, he is attacked by another inmate, Ross Sumner. The prison guard, Ted Wesson, watches but does nothing to stop the assault, suggesting there are forces within the prison system that want David silenced.
Meanwhile, Rachel begins her own investigation outside. She starts looking into Hilde Winslow, the neighbor who lied in court, and discovers that Hilde changed her name just a month after her testimony sent David to prison. It becomes clear that the conspiracy to frame David runs deep.
Back in the prison, Ted Wesson attempts to kill David himself. David manages to evade the knife and runs for safety. Ted reveals that he has been paid to kill David. With his life in immediate danger, the warden, Philip Mackenzie, and his son, Adam (who is David’s best friend), step in. They tell David they have a plan to break him out of prison. The episode ends with David escaping the prison, now a fugitive on a desperate quest to find the truth about his son.
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